Cells Team Members: I-Ting Wang Alan Everdeen Siyang Liang Danny - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Team 6

Charging Batteries with Solar Cells

MSU: Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities

Team Members: I-Ting Wang Alan Everdeen Siyang Liang Danny MacBeth

Solar Cell Assembly

• It is a lot cheaper if you build a solar panel than buying one.
• The ouput voltage and current can be customized based on the needs.
• The size can also be designed based on the location the panel is needed.

Pros and Cons

• The assembly is extremely time consuming and the solar cells are very

fragile.

• If the solar cells are not correctly installed the efficiency of the solar panel

can be much lower than expected.

Pros Cons

Parts and Tools

• Flux Pen
• Tab Wire (flux wire)
• Soldering Station
• Rubber Gloves

Charging Controller

Overview

Solar Panel

• To use a charging controller, a solar

panel of 5W or more is required.

• Prevent the overcharging of the battery.
• Increase the efficiency of the charging.
• Prevent current from flowing to the solar

panels from the battery. Why?

Charging Time

• Deep Cycle Battery rated 60AH ~ 120AH
• Solar Panel rated at 90 W, 12 V, 7.5A
• Charging Time = 60AH/7.5Amp = 8 Hr
• Doubled batteries = Doubled Charging Time
• Doubled Solar Panel = Half Charging Time

Storing Charge The best choice to store charge are Deep Cycle Batteries

• Low Cost
• Easily Available
• Simple to Expand Capacity
• Excellent Discharge Characteristics

Charging a Battery

Increasing Charge Capacity

• Accomplished by adding cells in parallel
• All cells must be the same voltage
• Adding batteries does complicate charging

Simple Case : One Battery

10 V < Vx < 14 V

iTotal 14 V (Solar)

Parallel Case Vw Vx Vy Vz iTota

l

iw ix iy iz

Limitations

• Mainly used for small scale solar projects
• Method feasible for larger scale projects

despite better alternatives